AD 2024 did not start well for the United States or Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, 70, who, on the first day of the year, was reported to have been rushed to hospital, spending four days in an intensive care unit without informing the White House.
Complications after an “elective” procedure were given as the cause.
For unknown reasons, the Pentagon kept the event secret from decision-makers and lawmakers in Washington. Not even President Biden and the White House were informed about the defence minister’s condition and that he, for three days, was not part of the chain of command.
The Pentagon press release, 5 January 2024:
“On the evening of January 1, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for complications following a recent elective medical procedure.
He is recovering well and is expecting to resume his full duties today. At all times, the Deputy Secretary of Defense was prepared to act for and exercise the powers of the Secretary, if required.”
Kathleen H. Hicks is the Deputy Defence Secretary and was, according to NBC News, in Puerto Rico in the Caribbean holiday when her boss was suddenly hospitalized. She did not interrupt her vacation to return to Washington.
The event occurred amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and what increasingly looks like an imminent collapse of the Zelensky regime in Ukraine.
On social media, what seem to be supporters of former US President Donald J. Trump have, since before Christmas 2023, been warning and threatening about a forthcoming “Operation Storm” against the political swamp in the US capital in Washington D.C. and elsewhere.
Sources
- Politico: Pentagon didn’t inform Biden, White House for days about Austin’s hospitalization
- DoD: Statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder on Secretary of Defense Austin
- NBC News: Pentagon waited three days to inform White House that the defense secretary was hospitalized in ICU
- Telegram: Pascal Najadi NEWS